There was a little confusion last week, but I've got it right this time.
Taking Back Beast World, Phase 2. Disney/Pixar's Onward comes out March 6 with a setting eerily close to BEAST WORLD. It's time to shout out to the world about these great books! And shout out I will. Can you hear me? WOOT! These are such awesome stories! Hmmm... you can't hear me. How am I going to tell you then? Oh! Yes, I'll review the books for you.
Broken Branch Falls (Beast World series - Book 1) Review: If Gabe told anyone he'd like to try a sport, everyone would laugh at him. Goblins are the nerds of the community, and they aren't allowed to step out of their role. Yet when Gabe and his friends do, chaos erupts and the High Council votes to segregate all the beasts. Desperate to make sure this doesn't happen, Gabe and his friends go on a quest to retrieve the Book of Ages which is a hidden tome filled with knowledge that might help them. It's their only chance, but can they work together to complete the quest?
I absolutely loved it. This MG fantasy has all the quirky charm and lovable characters as the Harry Potter series. Tara Tyler does an excellent job of taking the familiar fantasy world concept and twisting it into something highly original. The history and politics of this world fascinates me as do the various beasts. While I did like the quest Gabe and his friends went on, it was the world-building and characterization that had me devouring this book.
Gabe may be a goblin, but he's your everyday teen wanting to break out of the stereotype he's been forced into and try something new. He's the perfect hero as I related so well to him. Ona was my favorite character. An ogress with clean teeth and who loves music! Rove also intrigued me, especially with his story. The whole cast was fantastic.
Cradle Rock (Beast World series - Book 2) Review: It's Spring Break, and goblin Gabe is having a hard time with the fact his ogress girlfriend, Ona is going away to Cradle Rock to search for evidence of humans. Humans have long been extinct, after all. Ona goes missing, and Gabe rushes with his friends to find her. They stumble upon a village and start a war with a sneeze. Can Gabe save not only Ona but all of beastkind?
I fell in love with the world of beasts in the first book of this series, Broken Branch Falls. It has the charm and wonder like the Harry Potter series except the boy trying to figure things out is actually a goblin named Gabe. Gabe is a nerd and klutz, and absolutely lovable. I'm also a huge fan of his girlfriend Ona who is the smartest ogre anyone knows. Each character is colorful and fascinating. Rove is definitely my favorite. The calm and loyal werewolf best friend.
We're whisked away from Broken Branch Falls to the wilds and beyond the Mist. The action doesn't stop, and just when I thought I knew where we were going, a new surprise pops up. This is an incredibly fun MG fantasy book that I can't wait to read with my son when he's a few years older.
Windy Hollow (Beast World series - Book 3) Review: It's the wedding of the century, and Gabe and his friends are invited! They fly across the Great Sea for the festivities, and boy, are there a lot of them for dragon weddings. Yet it isn't all fun and games. The High Council is delivering the Revelation to tell the beasts that humans do exist and to let humans know of them. With an evil human scientist experimenting on beasts, Gabe and his friends can't just sit back. Will they be able to end this terror or become part of the experiments themselves?
This is the third book in the thrilling MG fantasy series, Beast World. These stories draw me in to the magnificent world the beasts live in. There are great details about the sights and different beast cultures. All the fun challenges for the wedding had me grinning. Of course, it's not all about the games. There's plenty of teenage drama and an evil plot which must be thwarted. I love the cast of characters. Such heart! It's not just a fantasy adventure, but a tale of friendship and trust. It's wonderful seeing how Gabe, Ona, and their friends grow through this series. I highly recommend these books to readers of all ages.
Tara Tyler has had a hand in everything from waitressing to rocket engineering. After moving all over the US, she now writes and teaches math in Ohio with her husband and one boy left in the nest. She has two novel series, Pop Travel (sci-fi detective thrillers) and Beast World (fantasy adventures), plus her UnPrincess novella series where the maidens save themselves. She's a commended blogger, contributed to several anthologies, and to fit in all these projects, she economizes her time, aka the Lazy Housewife—someday she might write a book on that... Make every day an adventure!
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